by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
Brittney Spears, an entertainer, has been in the news the past couple of weeks as she tried to end or modify a pair of conservatorships (guardianships) that the courts have enacted to control her business affairs and her body. Ms. Spears' life has essentially been under the management of others since a judge granted conservatorships of her personal and business dealings to her father in 2008, a situation that was to have been temporary but quickly became on-going. A conservatorship is something that a court can put in place when it deems that an individual is not capable of taking care of themselves or their interests.
Ms. Spears money has been controlled - legally - by her father and an independent trust acting under the auspices of a conservatorship, but the independent trust recently asked to withdraw based upon complaints lodged by Ms. Spears. Her father, however, appears to be intent on remaining in charge of her finances despite his daughter's objections, and a court recently ruled that his conservatorship of his daughter's business arrangements could continue. Her father had originally been in charge of his daughter's medical care as well, but he stepped back from that responsibility several years ago, and the court set up an alternative conservator, an attorney, to manage Brittney's medical needs, making health decisions that include brith control options.
The 39-year-old entertainer was placed under the controls of a conservatorship thirteen years ago following a mental breakdown. At that time her personal life and business affairs were in disarray, and she was reportedly bordering on bankruptcy. She continued to perform and produce a good income during the years that her father has run her business affairs, and now she is reportedly worth about $60 million, but that is money over which she has no control.
At this point in her life, Brittney Spears would like to end the conservatorships and regain control over her own life and property. She has been in and out of court over the past several weeks pursuing those ends. In June a judge denied Brittney's request to have her father removed as her conservator. At her next hearing in mid-July, the pop star asked to be able to select her own attorney, and another judge ruled that she could.
As she battles in court to once again take charge of her life, Brittney has been supported by a large and noisy fanbase who publicly demonstrate in favor of her independence.
This week as those loyal supporters gathered outside of a Los Angeles county courthouse to show support and solidarity for Brittney, a surprise guest showed up and joined in the demonstration. The visitor, wearing a dark blue suit and shades, was none other than Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, a man who is currently under investigation by the FBI over allegations of sex-trafficking and having sex with a minor. Gaetz said that he was there to lend his support to Brittney Spears' efforts to achieve independence from the control of others. During that plea for her freedom, he also fired up the crowd when he referred to Brittney's father as "a dick."
Some remarked that it was odd that a man who is under investigation for taking advantage of vulnerable women would deign to try and come to the rescue of someone so readily seen as a victim of the judicial system and the patriarchy, a person like Ms. Spears - and others postulated that perhaps the young congressman could himself benefit from the services of a conservator.
Gaetz, as well as several other prominent conservative voices, seem to be using Brittney Spears as a showcase for their arguments against government control over the personal lives of individuals. They paint it as an evil system overpowering the righteous little guy.
Whatever Matt Gaetz's true motivations were for trying to insert himself into the Brittney Spears' saga, it is doubtful that she needs or desires the presence of yet another unscrupulous male trying to benefit himself at her expense.
She's had plenty of those already, thank you very much!
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